Active Ants in Knoxville

By
Preferred Pests, Termite & Turf
|April 15, 2014

Similar to all other insects and animals, ants can be found anywhere. They
usually won’t cause any problem to humans until they start relocating
inside and attacking homes. People must have experienced ant infestation
at home and noticed that a single colony can wipe out the contents of
a kitchen or perhaps weaken the foundations of a house.

If one consults an expert ant pest control company in Knoxville, TN, still
the best way to prevent ant infestations is to know what attracts an entire
colony to come to the house. There are three causes of an infestation;
the search for food, search for shelter, and weather.

One of the top reasons why people can see a line of marching ants inside
their home is food. Ants are great food hunters. When a single wandering
ant stumbles upon a food source, it won’t be long until the whole
team of ant workers arrive and start bringing home that find. If it’s
a large chunk of food, one will notice that they will break it down first
into small and portable pieces. They constantly search for food to prepare
for the winter or rainy seasons.

They are most attracted to sweet and sugary foods. They are most attracted
to sweet and sugary foods. And it’s not only limited to actual sugar
or syrup. Other food items like bread, grains, crumbs, root crops, and
sweet fruits containing starch or glucose are also included in their food
targets. Placing these food items in seemingly unreachable areas is not
enough. There are only two ways to prevent ants from reaching these foods;
placing them in a sealed container or perhaps, using water to isolate them.

Just like termites, ants can establish their home either in soil or decaying
wood. Carpenter ants love to chew on weak and moist wood. Once they have
penetrated the outer layer of the wood, it will be easy for ant workers
to destroy the inner fibers of the lumber. A newly built house can be
safe from infestation because the wood used can still be tough and because
of the chemicals used to treat it. But once wood has been exposed to weathering
especially moisture, it begins to weaken.

Compared to the concern of losing food, it is more risky when the infestation
already involves wood. This could eventually weaken the structural integrity
of a house or building. It is therefore advisable to continuously maintain
the house especially its wood components by repainting or retreating.

Weather can also be a factor to ant infestations. Majority of ants establish
their colonies on the ground surface. When the weather gets too hot, they
will move to the shaded or cooler areas. When their home gets flooded
during the winter or rainy season, they will also relocate to higher and
dryer areas. But ants don’t wait for the rain to come before they
migrate. It’s interesting to note that they could predict when rain
is about to come, usually through the moisture in the air. Ants can penetrate
even the smallest cracks and openings in walls and floors. So to prevent
them from migrating inside the house, these openings should be sealed.

Do you need help with your ant infestation? Let Knoxville’s pest
control specialists help you.